NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6049, 10 December 1897, Page 3

NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS.

♦ A SERIOUS SITUATION. United Press Association— By Electric TelegraphCopyright. Beceived Dec. 10, 9.55 a.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 10. The Legislative Council rejected the Probate Bill by 28 to 9. At the instance of the Attorney-General, the Council immediately adjourned. The Government held a meeting, and decided to call a special meeting of the Cabinet to-day. By this action the Government is compelled to allow two Bills dealing with aliens to stand over till next*session. Mr Eeid told an interviewer that a very serious situation presented itself. Under any ordinary circumstances he would take the challenge up and bring the differences between the two Houses to a final issue. It was, however, a serious consideration whether it would be right to plunge the country into the vortex of a general election at this time of the year. He had expected to receive .£85,000 this year from the tax under the new Bill, and thus his estimated surplus of .£59,000 would now become a deficit of .£26,000. Tor the second tiino the Legislative Council had rejected the taxation proposals, of the Government. They had passed all his Bills involving expenditure, knowing that they intended to reject measures for maintaining the' equilibrium between revenue and expenditure.